Cabinet



H. L. BASS March 3, 1953 CABINET Filed Oct. 25, 1948 Fig.4.

Helen Lucy Bass mmvrozz.

- 9 BY 2mm wfiwfim Patented Mar. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CABINET Helen Lucy Bass, Chicago, Ill. Application October 25, 1948, Serial No. 56,417

This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structural refinements in handbags, and the principal object of the invention is to facilitate convenient and unobstrusive carrying of various personal articles, stationary, garments, etc., while travelling.

This object is achieved by the provision of the instant handbag assuming the form of a case fitted with suitably proportioned receptacles or containers so that they arewell adapted for the reception of the various articles as above outlined.

An important feature of the invention, therefore, resides in the particular structural arrangement of the handbag, and another feature of the invention involves the provision of means for securing the handbag to a suitable supporting surface while the bag is being used.

Some of the advantages of the invention reside in its simplicity of construction, pleasing appearance, convenient use, and in its adaptability to economical manufacture.

With the above more important objects and features in view and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially of the arrangement andconstruction of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 3-3 in Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational view showing a modified embodiment of the invention.

Like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts in the specification and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the invention consists of a handba designated generally by the reference character It, the same embodying in its construction a box-like housing or case 12 having a hollow center portion defining what may be called a receptacle l4. This receptacle is bordered by the side walls 16 which are set in from the perimetric edges of the housing and are suitably secured to the top and bottom 18, 20 respectively, of the housing, as will be clearly apparent. It will be also noted that the top 18 and the bottom 20 are connected together by suitable corner posts 22, this combined structure resulting in the formation of rectangular recesses 24 in the sides of the housing, as is best shown in Figure 1.

n The entire handbag may be conveniently carried by means of a suitable shoulder stra 26 having its ends secured to the upper portion of the housing l2, and it will be noted that the top Is is formed with a. rectangular'opening 28 (see Figure 2) so that access may be had to the receptacle H. A pair of coacting doors 30 are hinged as at 32 to the top It and constitute closure means for the receptacle l4, and if desired, the inner surfaces of thedoors 30 may be equipped with suitable mirrors, one of which is indicated at 34 in Figure 1. The receptacle [4 is intended to accommodate easily foldable garments such as lingerie, hose, etc., and may also be employed to receive small packages while shopping, and the like.

A plurality of tray-shaped containers 36 are hinged at one edge thereof as at 38 to the bottom 20 of the housing I2, these containers being swingable in and out of the recesses 24 in such manner that when they are disposed in the recesses, the bottoms 46 of the containers constitute outside walls of the housing l2. The various containers 36 are intended to accommodate relatively flat articles, such as for example, stationery as indicated at 42 in the right hand portion of Figure 1. To this end, the containers may be fitted with suitable partitions 44 so as to provide a plurality of compartments, substantially as shown.

Moreover, the containers 36 may be provided with fiat covers 46 which are hinged at one edge to the containers as at 48, and it will be noted that in addition to their primary purpose of providing closures for the containers 36 when the latter are disposed in the recesses 24, the covers 46 may also be used in the nature of a table top for writing purposes etc.

If desired, one of the containers 36 may be partitioned as indicated at 56 in the left hand portion of Figure 1. so as to provide a compartment for a stack of interfolded, disposable tissues 52, and a further compartment for used tissues, indicated at 54. The cover 46 of this particular container may be formed with a pair of elongated openings or slots 56, 56, the former functioning as a tissue dispensing slot while the latter facilitates insertion of used tissues into the appropriate compartment. When the supply of tissues 52 becomes exhausted, a new stack may be inserted in the appropriate compartment by simply opening the associated cover. Needless to say, the stack of tissues should first be removed from the usual container in which they are supplied to the purchaser.

The thickness" 01' the containers 36 is o 3 what less than the depth of the recesses 24, so that when the containers are disposed in the recesses, a space will exist between the containers and adjacent walls It; This space may be utilized for the reception of various small personal articles as exemplified at 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, etc., these articles being removably receivable in suitable clamps Hl secured or provided on the Walls 16. 1

If desired, one of the containers 36 maybe compartmented for the storage of cigarettes,

matches, etc. and for the reception of cigarette butts, ashes, and other waste, thus rendering the invention of convenience when smoking where usual smoking facilities are not available:

In order to prevent the handbagiromkbecoming accidentally or unintentionally displaced while it is being used, the bottom 20 there'oi' 'may be provided at its perimetric edges with arim of resilientlycompressible; material; such: aszrubber, on the: like; indicatedaatim When: theehazu'dbag,

- so equippedris positionedkupon'i a flat; supporting:

surface E4; thisrrimr willidefinezwhat may be called a: suction; chambenxwhereby thexhandbagrwill be securely. retained on: the surface; 14: by; atmos pheric: pressure; NEBQIBSSLtOi'SQIXh in order? to facilitate: such; retention, downward pressure should; be: exerted upon. the: handbags so as: to"

compress the-rim 12 andgthereafteripermit ittto expand;

The;- modified'i embodiment" of the; inzuention illustrated: fragm'entarily; in: the accompanying. Figure l; is"; substantially the same as; the? em; bodiment, already-described,- witlrex'ceptiontthat a plurality of conventional suction cups 76 are? used on thebottom otthehandbaginplacetof the aforementioneduime121 7 It. is LbElieVdZthatiZtHG advantages-i anduse oi the; invention; will ,be;clearly:apparent irom; the;

ioregoingdi'sclosure and accordingly,-.Idrthertdee scriptiomthereof atxthis pointzissdeemed. unnec essarye;

While-yin theeforegoingz thereshasribeenr showrra and. described the preferred iembodi'mentioffslthis of the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

An article storage cabinet comprising a rectangular housing including a bottom wall, a top Wall provided with a rectangular opening spaced inwardly from the edges of the top wall, and a set of vertical partitions extending between the top and bottom walls at the edges of said opening whereby to separate the interior of the housing into a central receptacle open at the top thereof and a plurality open sided recesses around said receptacle, closure means provided for and coextensive with said opening, tray-shaped containers hinged at their lower edges to marginal-edges of said" bottom" and receivable in the respective recesses",..said containers having bottom panels constituting side walls of said housing when the contairie'i'sare in their closed positions, and covers hingedly connected to the respective containers and swinga'ble upwardly tot'siard saidhousing when the containersare swung outwardly and downwardly from said'recesse's: v

HELEN LUCY BASS.

REFERENCES" CIEED Th'e'jfollowingreferences' are of record in'the file"of'this patent: V

UNIT-ED STATE S PATENTS 

